Booker T. welcomed back for Homecoming Weekend

Booker T. Jones has long been graduated from IU, but appreciation and admiration for the award-winning musician is still high on the IU campus.

The sound of applause echoed from alumni to current students to professors who showed up Friday night to watch the legendary Jones perform at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

Senior Chad Alexander said he became aware of Booker T. at an early age but learned most about Jones in Professor Glenn Gass’ History of Rock and Roll I class.

Alexander’s appreciation for Jones goes as far as working on a film, what he called his “senior project,” about Jones’ life. The film focuses mainly on Jones’ days at Stax Records in Memphis, Tenn., and his days in Bloomington.

“For me, listening to him as a kid and then learning who he actually was as a person was really cool,” Alexander said. “And the fact that we get to see an alumni that doesn’t get a lot of credit is also really cool.”

After an opening act from the African American Arts Institute ensemble, the IU Soul Revue, which included songs showcasing the group’s grasp on everything from soul to funk, Jones was awarded Honorary Member of the IU Soul Revue and a lifetime membership of the IU Alumni Association.

Senior Amir Gray, who plays the tuba with the IU Soul Revue, said he was happy with the turnout at the concert.

“It was a really nice concert, being able to watch Booker T. and the band afterwards,” Gray said. “I knew a lot of his music, actually. I definitely liked ‘Green Onions.’”

Jones then took a keyboard on stage, along with his band: Vernon “Ice” Black playing guitar, Darian Gray playing drums and Jeremy Curtis playing bass.

They played through a variety of hits, such as “Green Onions,” from his early days as a high school student working at Stax in Memphis to his most recent album. The band even did a few covers of songs by artists such as Bill Withers and Otis Redding.

When they played “Dock of the Bay” by Redding, Jones jokingly led the crowd into a whistle chorus.

IU Alumnus David Randle said he wanted to see Jones receive  honors. As an alumnus bass player for the IU Soul Revue, Randle says he often sees their performances.

“I thought it’d be nice to see him in person,” Randle said. “I’ve never had the opportunity. When I heard about this, I wanted to come back and check it out. It’s kind of a statement for someone like him to be the homecoming concert.”